Improved carpet-cleaning- machine



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wiLLIAM M CARTHUR, or PHILADELrHiA, PENNSYLVANIA. Leners Patent No. 87,952, ated Mami 16, 1869.

IMPROVED CARPET-CLEANING- MACHINE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part o f the sarna.

To all whom it may conce/m Beit known that I, WILLIAM MCARTHUR, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Carpet-Cleaning Machines; and I do hereby declare the following vto be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My-invention consists in certain devices, constructed and operating as fully described hereafter,- so as to effectually and speedily cleanse a carpet of dust, without abrading, or otherwise injuring the same.

In order to enable others skilled iu the art to make and use my invention, I willnow proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, whichforms a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a front elevation of my improved carpet'- beating machine;

Figure 2, a side elevation;

Figure 3, a sectional elevation on the line 1 2, fig. 1;

Figure 4, a sectional elevation on the line 3 4, iig. 2,1ookingin the direction of the arrow;

Figures 5 and 6, detached sectional views of parts Yof the machine, drawn 'to an enlarged scale; and

Figure 7, a-perspective view of one of the brush and beater-shafts.

A Al A2 are the side-frames of the machine, which are connected by the cross-pieces A3 A4 A5.

To each cross-piece, A, are secured the lower ends of bands B, of leather, or other suitable ie'xible material, the upper end of each band being connected `to a spiral spring, b, which is secured to a rod, c, extending through the adjacent cross-piece A, and havinga nut, c', at its upper end.

At the rear of each series of bands is a yielding bed, consisting, in the present instance, of coiled-wire springs z, secured to cross-strips, so that their outer ends are oppositeto and almost in contact with the bands B, when the latter are straight.

Tothe centre of each band, B, is secured one end of acord, d, the opposite end of which is secured to arockshaft, D, turning in bearings on the frames A A; and from one end of this shaft extends aweighted arm, E, which is so adjusted that the cords d will draw outward the bands B, as the arm swings inward from avertical position.

At one end of each shaft, D, is a projection, e, and below the latter, ou a shaft turningin the frames A A2, is seciued a disk, G, having projections e ou its periphery.

Below each bed, C, revolves what I term a sweeper, H, consisting of a cylinder, ou which a series of short brushes, g, is arranged in a spiral path, as shownY in iig. 7; and from the ends of each brush, to the ends of the cylinder, extend 'ribs h., to which are secured strikers j, arranged in series of three upon a spiral path, in the order of the brushes, the strikers consisting of strips of leather, or other suitable flexible material, and being enlarged at their outer ends.

In suitable bearings on the iiames, above the yielding beds O C, turn the shafts of five sweepers, I I, each.

consisting-of a'cylinder, on which, at equal distances apart, are four longitudinal ribs, h', and four intermediate brushes, g.

Between the sweepers I, turn rollers J, so arranged that a fabric passed across any two o f the same will be slightly elevated as one of the ribs, h', is brought beneath it, (figs. 5 and 6.)

Between the two lower sweepers, I, turns a fan, K, consisting of a cylinder, having radial `arms and blades k, so arranged, that as the fan revolves, the air will be drawn toward one side ofthe machine.

At opposite sides ofthe machine, and near the base of the same, turn the two carpet-beams, L L', and to gears with a pinion, on the shaftm of a roller, 11turnfrom which bands pass to pulleys on the shafts of the lower sweepers H H, and on the shaft of the disk D, the bands and other 'gearing being airangedas shown in iig. 2, so that when the fan-shaft is revolved in the direction of the arrow, g. 3, the other shafts will revolve in the directions of their arrows.

Beneath the cross-piece A5,' adjacent to the carpetbeam L', revolves a roller, n', and round the beam L is rolled the carpet, X,.to be cleaned, its end being stitched, or otherwise secured to a strip of canvas or other material, which passes beneath the roller n', upward over the rollers J and sweepers I, and then downward beneath the roller, to the beam L, to which it is secured,

Operation.

On a rotary motion being imparted to the ian-shaft, thecarpet will be wound slowly, from the beam L', on to the beam L, passing between the yielding beds O ia-nd beaters B, and over the rollers J and revolving sweepers H I.V

As each of the disks, G, revolves, its projections e' will successively strike the projection eof the adjacent shaft D, and the latter will be turned a part of a revolution, winding the cords dupon the same, and drawing outward the bands B, the weighted arm E being elevated to the position shown in-dotted lines, iig. 3, so that as soon as the projection e passes from contact with the projection e, the weight of the arm will turn the shaft D quickly in the direction of its arrow, (fig. 3,) slackening the cords d, while the bands, in being thus released, will, owing to the action of the .springs b, tend to become straightened, and willv bebrou'ght forcibly against the carpet, the .springs `@forming the beds, against which the carpet is forced,fyielding suciently Y to prevent it from being abraded by the action of the in which they are arranged on the sweepers) successively, so as to avoid the strain which would be imparted to the carpet by the simultaneous action of so large a number of strikers operating with such force.

As the sweepers H H revolve, the dust is brushed from the carpet, the manner in which the brushes are arranged upon the sweepers preventing the tearing 'and wear of the carpet, which is apt to result when the brushes are arranged in straight lines upon the cylinders.

As the upper sweepers I revolve, a brush on each roller will first elevate the carpet between the rollers J J, iig. l, and then, passing from it, will permit it to descend and strike the rib h', this successive agitating and sweeping of the carpet operating to detach much ofthe dust from the same.

The dust detached by the `joint operations of the sweepers, strikers, and beaters, is driven, by the action of the fan k, laterally from the machine, in the direction of the arrow, iig. 4, so as not again to be deposited upon the carpet.

The beaters may be made of rubber, or other elastic material, in which case the springs b will be unnecessary, any desired degree of tension being imparted to the beaters by turning the nuts c. v

The yielding beds C may be made of rubber, felt, or other material, and may be used in machines in which beaters constructed differently from those described are employed; and the strikers j, instead of being secured to the sweepers H, may be attached to a separate shaft, or cylinder revolving beneath the sweeper.

Vithout claiming, broadly, a yielding bed, arranged beneath the carpet, where it is struck by the beaters, or the use of a fan, and without confining myself to the precise construction and arrangement oi' parts herein described,

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A series of flexible, or elastic bands. B, in combination with devices whereby they may be drawn from and brought against a strip of carpet, or other material arranged beneath them.

2. The combination of the ieXible beatersand springs b, arranged and operating substantially as described.

3. The combination of the beaters B, rock-shaft D, and cords connecting the shaft to the beaters, substantially as and for the purpose specied.

4. The'fan K, so arranged as to expel the dust lat` erally from the machine, for the purpose described.

5. Ihe arrangement, on one shaft, of the brushes g and strikers j, substantially as and for the purpose specified.'4

6. The ribs h', arranged on a shaft between parallel brushes g', for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination of the two opposite series of beaters, their respective beds O C, fan K, and rollers and sweepers placed between the two beds, when the whole are arranged as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof', I have signed my name to this speciiication, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM MCARTHUR.

Witnesses:

J om: WHITE, O. B. PRICE. 

